Sports Nats moves back to Columbus....
 

Makes sense to me....

Re: Sports Nats moves back to Columbus....
 

Wow

Sept 20-22

https://www.nhra.com/news/2018/jegs-...way-2019-event

Beech Bend has now lost 2 big races in 2019
(this and the NMCA)

Makes me wonder if we will get our National Open back at BG on Memorial Day weekend ?

Re: Sports Nats moves back to Columbus....
 

was wondering that myself?

Re: Sports Nats moves back to Columbus....
 

enlighten me..

Re: Sports Nats moves back to Columbus....
 

Well, other than spacious asphalt parking, beautiful green grass pit areas with numerous shade trees, covered grandstands, AIR CONDITIONED restrooms and SHOWERS, amusement park and swimming pool for the youngsters, nice campground with hookups,......Bowling Green doesn’t have much to offer...In all fairness, I do believe that Columbus has TWO shower stalls....

Re: Sports Nats moves back to Columbus....
 

Yep Mike, Columbus is not Bowling Green.

Re: Sports Nats moves back to Columbus....
 

Good to here. Sport nationals back where it belongs.
I bring my own shower so I’m good

Re: Sports Nats moves back to Columbus....
 

Could be perfect.......as long as they don't have the Dutch Classic that same weekend....

The MG national event is the weekend before.

Eric

Re: Sports Nats moves back to Columbus....
 

You are absolutely correct Greg,......

Re: Sports Nats moves back to Columbus....
 

Columbus is the armpit of tracks. This goes to prove money talks. Nobody has ever been treated better than they are at Beech Bend. I sure hope they still have the Memorial Day race at Beech Bend!

Re: Sports Nats moves back to Columbus....
 

Hope NHRA can figure a way to get more seats filled. Spectator participation at this years Sports was disheartening.

Re: Sports Nats moves back to Columbus....
 

AMEN! We had six kids in our group this year and they had a blast and we spun in the final. I was on the fence with my junk and this makes next years decision that much easier. Phish


GREAT RACE anyone? New project will need drivers

Re: Sports Nats moves back to Columbus....
 

Its "HEAR" or do all Long Island'ers spell that way ?

Re: Sports Nats moves back to Columbus....
 

neaux

Re: Sports Nats moves back to Columbus....
 

I've never had the pleasure of being there, but heard reports from friends. They said to bad more tracks are not the same as Beech Bend. The racers are treated very nicely and the facility was top notch. Great place for a family to go racing at. Everyone wins.

Just my .02 cents, whatever that is worth. Thanks for listening.

Re: Sports Nats moves back to Columbus....
 

I'm excited, mainly because I live in Columbus. Its been sad to see my home track decline over the years, but hopefully the new co-owner and GM will be able to shake it up a bit.


Its encouraging that they are getting a bigger race back. Let's hope they can do it justice.

Re: Sports Nats moves back to Columbus....
 

From my understanding from quite a few racers this past year at the sports in bowling green traction was a BIG problem!! I raced at Columbus divisional this year and the track was great!

Re: Sports Nats moves back to Columbus....
 

Confirmed with the Division 3 office this morning the NHRA SportsNATIONAL OPEN will return to Beech Bend on Memorial Day weekend in 2019!


We were very fortunate to host the JEGS SportsNationals for 3 years and enjoyed our moment in the spotlight of once again hosting a NHRA National event and wish them luck in Columbus!


But we are also excited about the National Open returning and currently dreaming up something special for the Super Stock/Stock crowd for Saturday night!

Re: Sports Nats moves back to Columbus....
 

That's great news

Re: Sports Nats moves back to Columbus....
 

Good news for us Buckeyes - plus the weather is better in September

Re: Sports Nats moves back to Columbus....
 

If you have a traction problem at BG, your car has a problem.

Ryan Walther
Stock 315

Re: Sports Nats moves back to Columbus....
 

I hate that the Sports is changing locations but i suspect it is more a Jegs deal than anything else. I'm a lot closer to BG than NT but that will not stop me from participating next year. I'm glad there will be a quality race in September for sportsmen cars. No doubt BG is a better facility and NT needs to up-grade their restrooms but in the end it's a drag race. If the track is good and we can race and have an enjoyable week end, lets do it. I'm old(70) and don't want to argue about a decision I can't change. It's done and I plan on going because I like that race more than Indy. Hope to see all my racing friends there. Larry Wilson SS 3058

Re: Sports Nats moves back to Columbus....
 

So what did Dallas Jones do wrong to lose the race? He and his staff do a great job!

Everyone is a loser on this change.

Re: Sports Nats moves back to Columbus....
 

Great to hear!

Re: Sports Nats moves back to Columbus....
 

I think Jeg's likes the idea of having the race "in their backyard", which you really can't blame them. I'm just glad they support it and it's still in Division 3.

Re: Sports Nats moves back to Columbus....
 

I remember the 1990 All-Stars race there. There were a lot of cars under water..............
Dan

Re: Sports Nats moves back to Columbus....
 

We went there once. That will be the last time. If I want to go to a ****ty track I’ll go to Noble....

Re: Sports Nats moves back to Columbus....
 

Bowling Green is a really cool track, and I have always enjoyed going there the 5 or so times that I have gone to the lodrs race. I expect that Columbus has and will continue to improve. Jay Livingston , who was in charge at Woodburn , left that track which was his families business and is now on his own and a part owner of Trails(Columbus). I expect that he will improve Trails. Certainly Jegs must be happy to have the Sports back close to their home, and yes, I believe they should have some say in it, as they maybe the reason we even have a Sportsnationals

Re: Sports Nats moves back to Columbus....
 

I have raced at Bowling Green for one year now traction is not a problem there .always the best starting line and the owners are very aware of and appreciate their customers .Dallas and Broc are the best

Re: Sports Nats moves back to Columbus....
 

Its always about the money. nhra probably wanted more than Dallas was willing to pay.

Re: Sports Nats moves back to Columbus....
 

I tend to agree.
I think the move is a Jeg's deal

Re: Sports Nats moves back to Columbus....
 

With announcement of the SportsNATIONALS National Open returning that weekend then Dallas probably did not lose out on much

Re: Sports Nats moves back to Columbus....
 

So Paul Boster,Jerry Bennet,Chris Stephenson and the list goes on have something wrong with their cars????? I dont think so!!

Re: Sports Nats moves back to Columbus....
 

Your right. My mistake. BG has a traction problem. :rolleyes:

Ryan Walther
Stock 315

Re: Sports Nats moves back to Columbus....
 

Dont get wrong BG is a MUCH nicer place than NT and the management caters to the sportsman racers, but this year at the Sports Nationals there was definitely a problem for a few racers in stock when it came to traction.

Re: Sports Nats moves back to Columbus....
 

I've attended the Jegs Sports Nationals at BG for the past 3 years on Saturday. It's only an hour drive from my home in Hendersonville, TN. Yes the spectator attendance was low each year but not many fans of NHRA truly appreciate class racing.

Someone correct me if I'm wrong: But since the SportsNats came back to BG (3 years ago?) hasn't the racer participation been lower at the SportsNats than the LODRS at the end of August each year as well? Maybe Ohio can get more racer participants?
Didn't Stock technically have 2 cars not qualify due to the 128 car field at the division race?

I know the TD and TS categories have MUCH better participation at the division race than the SportsNats.

And yes, OH is in Jegs back yard so it makes sense to me. I hate that it's moving but it is what it is.


Matt Hanley
Hendersonville, TN

Re: Sports Nats moves back to Columbus....
 

Matt, the primary reason for the exceptional attendance at the August LODRS race is that it immediately precedes the Nationals and folks like to dial in their combinations and get a little more seat time just before the Big Go. Some like to see if they have enough to even qualify in similar atmospheric conditions (some of us find it barometric “challenging”). Plus since they start stacking in Indy early in the week you’re just a short drive away from BG. Venture to guess that a poll would reveal 90% of the racers would prefer to run the SPORTSnationals at BG over NT.

Re: Sports Nats moves back to Columbus....
 

I raced at the SportsNATIONALS National Open in '13, '14, and 2015.
Beautiful weather all 3 years in a row at Beech Bend on those Memorial Day weekends.

When it became a national event in '16 I believe there was a lot of rain around that time.

I seem to recall 2 out of the last 3 years that rain maybe had an affect on spectator attendance.

Re: Sports Nats moves back to Columbus....
 

Though I have not raced in a while, I have been at both tracks numerous times. Bowling Green by far is the better facility and if Livingston is involved at NT I hope he has learned to treat the racers better. I never liked how I was treated at Woodburn and quit going there.

Re: Sports Nats moves back to Columbus....
 

I’ve never heard anyone say National Trail is their favorite track in the country. Lots of folks I know hold Beech Bend as their favorite track .